Earthquake HistoryIn peninsula
India the state of Maharashtra, along with Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh,
has suffered from frequent earthquakes, both deadly and damaging,
although not located on or near any plate boundaries. All the
earthquakes here, as in all of peninsula India, are intraplate events.
In the 20th century alone, three earthquakes with magnitudes greater
than 6.0 were recorded here. The west coast along with the major
cities of Mumbai and Pune have both been strongly shaken in the past
in 1618 and 1764 respectively. Several faults have been identified in
this region out of which many show evidence of movement (2)
during the Holocene epoch. The north-south trending West Coast and
Chiplin Faults (2),
run along the coast and the Sahyadri range. The West Coast fault runs
along the eastern shore of the Thane Creek in the Mumbai area, along
the flanks of the Parsik Hills (Belapur-Vashi region). The Chiplun
Fault runs (2)
from the mouth of Bombay Harbour to the Sangammeshwar area in
Ratnagiri district. The southeast-northwest trending Upper Godavari
Fault (2)
runs along the Godavari River from near Trimbakeshwar towards
Marathwada. The Ghod River Fault (2)
trends in the same direction and runs from the Jawhar area in Thane
district towards Bhigwan in eastern Pune district. The Vidharbha
region is intersected by a prominent fault called the Kadam fault
which runs from Bhusawal into northern Andhra Pradesh. The northern
section of the state is affected by east-west faults (2)
belonging to the Narmada Fault Zone. However, it must be stated that
proximity to faults does not necessarily translate into a higher
hazard as compared to areas located further away, as damage from
earthquakes depends on numerous factors such as subsurface geology as
well as adherence to the building codes. The earthquake at Koyna in
1967 is the largest known case of Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS)
in the world. RIS (12)
has also been noted at other dams in the state such as Bhatsa, Ghirni
and Mula.

Seismic Hazard

The seismic hazard map of India was
updated in 2000 (6)
by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The new map includes the central
districts of Beed (Bir), Dharashiv (Osmanabad) and Latur, along with eastern
sections of Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara and Sangli districts in Zone III. All of
these areas lay in Zone I or II in the BIS 1984 map. The zones in the rest of
the state are the same as in the previous map. The districts of Raigad,
Ratnagiri and Satara are the only districts to lie in Zone IV, where the maximum
expected intensity is VIII (MSK). The remaining western and north-western
districts all lie in Zone III. The central and eastern districts lie in Zone II.
It must be noted that
BIS estimates the hazard, based in part, on previous
known earthquakes. Since the earthquake database in India is still incomplete,
especially with regards to earthquakes prior to the historical period (before
1800 A.D.), these zones offer a rough guide of the earthquake hazard in any
particular region and need to be regularly updated (See also:
GSHAP Hazard Map for Maharashtra).

Largest Instrumented
Earthquake in Maharashtra10 December 1967 - Koyna area,
Maharashtra, Mw 6.5 (2).
17.450 N, 73.850 E, D=027.0 kms, OT=06:48:25 UTC (2)
200 people were killed and many villages in the Koynanagar area were severely
affected. The Koyna Dam suffered some structural damage and leaks were observed
in the face of the dam. Tremors were felt strongly in many towns and cities in
western Maharashtra, including, Mumbai and Pune. Also felt in Goa and other
parts of western and southern India.

Significant
Earthquakes in Maharashtra
The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region
which either had observed intensities of Vor higher
(historical events) or had known magnitudes of 5.0or more
(instrumented events).General locations are provided
for historical events for which "generalized" epicentral
co-ordinates are available.Some events which
were significant for other reasons are also included. Events
of intensity III or greater,
in or in the immediate vicinity of Mumbai
are also listed. This list will be updated whenever newer information is
available. Aftershocks of the 1967 Koyna and 1993 Khilari earthquake will not be
listed unless there exists additional data for them. Please note that
Magnitude and Intensity are NOT THE SAME.
All events are within the state or union territory covered on this page unless
stated otherwise.

This listing will be modified
without notice. Please check back for the latest version
when using it elsewhere. Additionally, please
reproduce using appropriate
CITATIONS/CREDITS.

1524 A.D. - Off the coast of Dabhol, Maharashtra.
A large tsunami (15)
caused considerable alarm to the Portuguese fleet who were assembled off the
coast of Dabhol (15),
Maharashtra.

1594 A.D. - Matheran area, Maharashtra.
19.10 N, 73.20 E (1)
Maximum observed intensity IV (1).
This region lies to the east of Mumbai and to the south-east of Kalyan. It is
the earliest reported earthquake from this region.

26 May 1618 -
Mumbai area, Maharashtra.
18.90 N, 72.90 E (1)
Maximum observed intensity IX (1).
This is the most damaging earthquake known to date in or near
the Mumbai area. 2,000 fatalities are blamed on this event. The
exact location and magnitude of this earthquake are still
unclear.

1678 A.D. -
Matheran area, Maharashtra.
19.10 N, 73.20 E (1)
Maximum observed intensity VI (1).
This region lies to the east of Mumbai and to the south-east of
Kalyan.

09 December 1751 - Vangani-Matheran area, Maharashtra.
19.10 N, 73.20 E (1)
Maximum observed intensity VI (1).
This region lies to the east of Mumbai and to the south-east of
Kalyan.

05 January 1752 - Badlapur-Neral area, Maharashtra.
19.10 N, 73.30 E (8)
Maximum observed intensity V (8).
This region lies to the east of Mumbai and to the south-east of
Kalyan.

20 March 1826 -
Talgaon-Kudal area, Maharashtra.
16.10 N, 73.70 E (8)
Maximum observed intensity VI (8).
This region lies to the east of Malvan. This earthquake is also
known as the Moze Morwade earthquake.

04 December 1832 - Ajgaon-Terekhol area, Maharashtra.
15.800 N, 73.700 E (8)
Maximum observed intensity VI (8).
This earthquake is the largest event known near the state of Goa. No
moderate or major earthquakes have been recorded in Goa.

27 November 1945
- Off the Makran coast, Pakistan, Mw 8.0 (14)
24.500 N, 63.000 E, D=025.0 kms, OT=21:56 UTC (14)
At least 2000 people killed in southern Pakistan and neighbouring
Iran. Tsunamis with heights of 12 meters struck the Makran coast.
Damage also occurred at Ormara. 15 people were killed by the tsunami
in Mumbai.

08 April 1951 -
Off the Konkan Coast, M? 6.0 (9)
18.500 N, 70.800 E, OT=20:53:08 UTC (9)
Centred in the Arabian Sea, 218 kilometres east-south-east of
Mumbai, this was the largest earthquake in this part of the Arabian
Sea in recent history. It was felt at Mumbai, Pune and Surat.

25 August 1957 - Lalburra-Tikari area, Madhya Pradesh, Ms 5.5
(2).
22.000 N, 80.000 E, OT=21:04:50 UTC (2)
The district of Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh and Bhandara in
Maharashtra were affected. 25 fatalities are reported for this
event. The epicentre of this earthquake was north of the town of
Waraseoni in Madhya Pradesh and the town of Gondia in Maharashtra.

10 December 1967 - Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mw 6.5
(2).
17.450 N, 73.850 E, D=027.0 kms, OT=06:48:25 UTC (2)
200 people were killed and many villages in the Koynanagar area were
severely affected. The Koyna Dam suffered some structural damage and
leaks were observed in the face of the dam. Tremors were felt
strongly in many towns and cities in western Maharashtra, including,
Mumbai and Pune. Also felt in Goa and other parts of western and
southern India.

17 February 1974 - Arabian Sea, M? 5.0 (8).
17.500 N, 73.100 E (8)
This event was located off the Konkan coast, to the west of Guhagar
near Ratnagiri.

02 September 1980 - Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mw 5.0 (13).
17.270 N, 73.760 E, D=033.0 kms, OT=16:39:14 UTC (2)
Strongest in a series of small to moderate earthquakes from this
date to the end of September 1980.

20 September 1980 - Koyna area, Maharashtra, Ms 5.2 (2).
17.260 N, 73.640 E, D=019.0 kms, OT=10:45:30 UTC (2)
Second largest event in a series of small to moderate earthquakes
from this date to the end of September 1980.

18 October 1992 - Nilanga-Killari area, Maharashtra, Mb 4.3 (2).
18.100 E, 76.730 E, D=025.0 kms, OT=17:33:02 UTC (2)
Felt strongly in Latur district and many people rushed outdoors in
panic. Many buildings were damaged by the tremor, which was the
largest event in a swarm that was felt in the area from August to
October 1992.

24 August 1993 - Arabian Sea, Mb 4.9 (2).
20.700 E, 71.440 E, D=029.0 kms, OT=17:47:30 UTC (2)
This event was located in the Gulf of Khambat, to the west of Surat,
Gujarat. This earthquake was felt widely in south-eastern Gujarat
and parts of coastal Maharashtra. In Gujarat, people rushed out into
the open at Ankleshwar, Bardoli, Bharuch and Bulsar. It was felt
strongly (MM V) at Rajula. It was also felt (MM IV) at Amreli,
Bhavnagar and Surat. In Maharashtra, it was felt (MM III) in Mumbai.
Reports of tremors were received from Bandra, Chembur, Juhu,
Kandivili and Prabhadevi. The shock was perceived over an area with
a radius of 250 kilometres.

28 August 1993 - Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mb 4.8 (2).
17.240 N, 73.730 E, D=005.0 kms, OT=04:26:24 UTC (2)
Felt in western Maharashtra, including at Mumbai and Pune. 10 school
students were injured in a stampede that broke out in their school
in Ichalkaranji. Slight damage was reported for this tremor.

30 September 1993 - Killari area, Maharashtra, Mw 6.2 (10)
18.090 N, 76.470 E, OT=22:25:50 UTC (2)
Among the deadliest intraplate earthquakes on record. Close to 8,000
people were killed and thousands injured in the pre-dawn earthquake.
Many villages in the epicentral area, around Killari were razed to
the ground. 55 people were killed in the neighbouring state of
Karnataka, in Gulbarga district. Strong tremors were experienced at
Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai and across much of Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Tremors were felt as far as
Chennai.

08 December 1993 - Chandoli area, Maharashtra, Mw 5.1 (13).
17.000 N, 73.650 E, D=032.0 kms, OT=01:42:17 UTC (2)
1 elderly woman died of a heart attack and 6 were injured in this
early morning quake. It was felt very strongly all over western
Maharashtra and Goa for close to 20 seconds. Moderate damage was
reported in several villages in the epicentral area.

01 February 1994 - Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mb 5.0
17.228 N, 73.523 E, OT=09:30:55 UTC (10)
1 person hospitalised for shock in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
Tremors were felt for close to 18 seconds in western Maharashta and
in Goa and Karnataka.

31 May 1998 - Koparpada-Naude area, Maharashtra, ML 3.6
19.040 N, 73.110 E, OT=13:29 UTC (4)
This earthquake was the first instrumented event in this general
area. Tremors were felt in Thane (MM IV-V) and at Dombivili, Kalyan,
Kulgaon and Mumbra. Mild tremors (MM III-IV) were experienced in
Mumbai at Borivali, Chembur, Dahisar, Juhu, Malad, Mira Road, Santa
Cruz and Wadala as well as in south Mumbai.

12 March 2000 -
Koyna are, Maharashtra, Mw 5.0
17.244 N, 73.707
E, D=05.0 kms, OT=18:03:52
UTCA
moderate earthquake struck
the Koyna region in Maharashtra, India, on
12 March 2000 at 23:33 PM local time resulting in
some damage to property in the Koyna-Warna region of Maharashtra.
It had a magnitude of Mw=5.0 and was felt for
close to 28-seconds in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.19 June 2000 - Killari area, Maharashtra, ML 4.6 (4)
18.008 N, 76.532 E, OT=08:22 UTC (4)
Felt in Marathwada, Maharashtra. Also felt at Solapur in Maharashtra
and Gulbarga in Karnataka.

05 September 2000 -
Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mw 5.2
17.332 N, 73.790
E, D=010.0 kms, OT=00:32:43 UTCA
moderate earthquake struck
the Koyna region in Maharashtra, India, on
5 September 2000 at 06:02 AM local time resulting
in some damage to property in the districts of Kolhapur, Pune,
Ratnagiri, Satara and Sangli in Maharashtra. It had a
magnitude of Mw=5.2 and was felt for close to
47-seconds in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.

16 November 2001 -
Airoli area,
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, ML 2.9
19.155 N, 73.007
E, OT=20:08:39 UTC
A
mild earthquake struck parts of Thane
and Mumbai districts, on 16 November
2001 at 01:38 AM local time. It had a magnitude of
ML=2.9 and was felt distinctly in parts of both districts.

27 March 2003 -
Koyna area, Maharashtra, ML 4.1
17.379 N, 73.803
E, D=015.0 kms, OT=06:18:25
UTCA
light earthquake
struck the Koyna-Warna region in
Maharashtra, India, on 27
March 2003 at
11:48AM local
time causing minor damage to property in Patan
taluka. The earthquake had a
magnitude of ML=4.1
and was felt in parts of western Maharashtra.
A milder foreshock at 10:36 AM resulted in one death at
Sayyedwadi in Ratnagiri district.

27 July 2003 -
Sindvani area, Maharashtra, ML
3.821.878 N, 74.341
E, D=020.0 kms, OT=04:35:33
UTCA mild
earthquake struck the
border areas of the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and
Gujarat on 27 July 2003
at 10:05 AM local time. It caused some
minor damage in the region and had a magnitude of
ML=3.8.

17 May 2004
-
Katraj-Dive Ghats, Pune, ML 3.2
18.365 N, 73.936
E, D=08.3 kms, OT=22:14:41
UTCA mildearthquakewas felt in the Pune
metropolitan area in Maharashtra, on 17
May 2004 at 03:44 AM
local time. The earthquake had a
magnitude of ML=3.2 and was centred in the
Dive-Katraj range between the Dive & Katraj Ghats to the south of
the Pune urban area.

14 March 2005
- Koyna area, Maharashtra, ML 5.1
17.139 N, 73.687
E, D=25.0 kms, OT=15:13:45
UTCA
moderate earthquake struck
western Maharashtra as well as adjoining areas of
Goa and northern Karnataka on the afternoon of 14 March 2005 and
lasted nearly 30-seconds. It had a magnitude of
ML=5.1. Itcaused
damage in the Chandoli-Koyna-Warna region and resulted in at least
46 minor injuries. Another tremor of Mb=4.3 tremor occurred the
following day.

14June 2005
-
Ambarnath region, Maharashtra, Mw 3.7
19.238 N, 73.201
E, D=2 kms, OT=12:16:12 UTCA
mild earthquake struck the Titvala
region near Mumbai, Maharashtra, on 14 June 2005 at 17:46 PM
local time. It had a magnitude of Mw=3.7
and was felt in many towns in the region as well as in suburban
Mumbai.

30 August 2005
- Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mb 4.7
17.070 N, 73.770
E, D=10.0 kms, OT=08:53:20
UTCA
light earthquake struck
the Koyna-Warna region in Maharashtra,
India, on 30 August 2005 at 02:23 AM local
time causing minor damage to property in Patan
taluka. The earthquake had a
magnitude of Mb=4.7
and was felt in parts of western
Maharashtra, north Karnataka and Goa.

4 January 2006
-
Marathwada region, Maharashtra, ML 3.5
18.222 N, 76.392
E, D=7.1 kms, OT=11:01:33
UTCA
mild earthquake struck the Marathwada
region in Maharashtra, India, on 4 January
2006 at 16:31 PM local time. It had a magnitude of
ML=3.5 and was felt strongly in some parts of the
region. 17 April 2006
-
Koyna area, Maharashtra, Mb 4.4
17.003 N, 73.797
E, D=35.0 kms, OT=16:40:02
UTCA
light earthquake struck the
Koyna-Warna region in Maharashtra, India,
on 17 April 2006 at
22:10 PM local time causing minor damage
to property in Patan taluka.
The earthquake had a magnitude of
Mb=4.4
and was felt at many places in western Maharashtra, north Karnataka
and Goa. 31 March 2007
-
Nanded region, MaharashtraAn
earthquake swarm accompanied by loud explosion-like reports began to
be felt in the town of Nanded and the adjoining areas on
31 March 2007 local time. Minor damage and a few
injuries were reported as a result of the tremors in Nanded.

6 June 2007
-
Katraj-Khadakwasla region, Pune, Maharashtra,
M2.6
OT=07:48 UTCA
mild earthquakewas felt in the Pune
metropolitan area in Maharashtra, on
6 June 2007 at 13:18PM
local time. The earthquake had a
magnitude of M?=2.6
and was felt in parts of the Pune metropolitan
area. Officials at the Meteorological Department also suggested
the possibility that this might have been the result of
underground tunneling work that is underway in the apparent
epicentral region and not of seismic origin.

21 August 2007
-
Warna-Koyna region, Maharashtra, ML 4.0
17.170 N, 73.770 E, D=5.0 kms, OT=19:15:51 UTCA light
earthquake occurred in Koyna-Warna (Chandoli) region of
south-western Maharashtraon
21August
2007 at 00:45AM
local time and caused minor damage in the epicentral region.
The earthquake had a magnitude of ML=4.0
and was felt in several parts of the region including as far as
the Pune region to the north.

6 September 2007
-
Marathwada, Maharashtra, ML 4.1
18.057 N, 76.535 E, D=10.0 kms, OT=07:09:44 UTCA light
earthquake occurred in Marathwada region of
south-central Maharashtraon 6 September
2007 at 12:39PM
local time and caused panic as well as minor damage in the epicentral region.
The earthquake had a magnitude of ML=4.1
and was felt in parts of south-central Maharashtra and in north
Karnataka.

30 July2008
-
Koyna region, Maharashtra Mb=4.3
17.324 N, 73.747 E, D=3.2 kms, OT=19:11:01 UTC
A light earthquake (M4.0-4.9 termed as
light) occurred in the Koyna (Koynanagar-Helwak
area) region of south-western Maharashtra
on 30 July 2008 at 00:41AM local time.
The earthquake centred in the Gokul-Waghini area had a
magnitude of Mb=4.3
causing some damage, minor injuries and was felt in several parts of
the region including as far as Mumbai & Nashik.

16 September2008
-
Koyna region, Maharashtra Mb=4.9
17.289 N, 73.815 E, D=10 kms, OT=21:47:15 UTC
A light earthquake (M4.0-4.9 termed as
light) occurred in the Koyna region of
south-western Maharashtraon 17 September
2008 at 03:17AM
local time. The
earthquake centred in the Koyna-Warna area had a magnitude of
Mb=4.9 and
caused widespread damage in the epicentral region and at least one
death near Pune. The shock was felt for over 45-seconds in much of
western Maharashtra, Goa and north Karnataka, even as far south as
Bengaluru.